Hydra Still Closed To Tourism

In the last couple of weeks, people have inundated me with enquiries wanting to know if they can come to Hydra. Even Hydra's holiday homeowners have been asking if they can accept April bookings. But wishful thinking fueled by speculation in the press has not forced a speeding up of the cessation of the Greek lockdown.

Today's Government announcement partially lifts restrictions for ESSENTIAL & EMERGENCY travel from the EU and a few other countries. Individuals from those countries need no longer self-isolate for 7-days upon arrival. But this does not mean that people (from those countries) can enter the country for holidays or pleasure trips. The lifting of the 7-day isolation for those who have been fully vaccinated OR have a negative PCR test 72 hours prior to departure has been made to enable easier travelling for essential or emergency trips from those countries only.

The latest relaxation of the 7-day isolation requirement from a few countries should not signal 'permission' to book holidays on Hydra during April or even over the Greek Pascha weekend.

Just because you don't have to self-isolate for 7-days doesn't mean that the other restrictions won't apply to you. You will still have to prove ownership if you say you are travelling from Piraeus to Hydra to stay in your own residence. The Greek Government has asked even Athenians who own 2nd homes on Hydra to NOT travel between their homes unless absolutely essential. The hotels, guest houses, pensions and therefore Airbnb-style private holiday-home rentals have NOT been given the go-ahead to resume business. The restaurants, cafes & bars are not permitted to reopen yet. Shops other than a limited number of food and essential goods stores, are allowed to operate only click and collect sales.

And for everyone who is already on Hydra, the restrictions are still as they have been for months. SMS permits required to go out, no groups, parties or meetings, limited numbers, social distancing, no accompanying loved ones who need hospitalisation, church services and funerals with limited attendance, all with masks both inside and out, no visiting each other's houses other than with social bubble families, limits on the number of people in sea taxis even.

The Greek Government are trying to speed up the vaccination program, especially on the islands. But there are limits to how fast this can be done. On Hydra, slightly over 60% of the island's population will have been fully vaccinated but not until mid-May at the earliest.

Given the current level of high alert within Greece, where the virus is still causing many cases and deaths daily, it stands to reason that the country is not open for tourism until the still quoted 14th May 2021.

As much as I sympathise entirely with everyone who is getting desperate to return to some semblance of normality, realistically, it is not possible yet. Until at least 26th April 2021, the Greek Government has made it clear that you can only travel into the country for essential and emergency reasons. This doesn't include holidays or pleasure. In the strictest interpretation, this also applies to 2nd homeowners who would normally migrate to the island at this time of the year.

For the last month, the Greek Government has been asking Greeks not to make plans to travel to their 'family' island or countryside homes. Even Greece's churches have already modified how they are going to hold Pascha services online without congregations again this year. For the 2nd year, the country's most significant religious observance will have Greeks staying at the homes where they have spent the last 6 months in lockdown.

The aim of all the restrictions and to not open for pleasure travel either domestically or internationally until the 14th May is to safe-guard the vital summer season for everyone.

This is how things stand today (19th April), but as the world knows, changes are happening daily. So who knows what restriction might, or might not, lift next week. I will continue to strive to clarify the latest 'rules'. 

For now, as a parting piece of advice, I'd say to everyone, stay at home until 14th May unless it's truly essential, and hang on in there for a little longer.

Please see my latest Travel Requirements and Covid Updates for more information.

Regards Kelsey